2006 Dodge Magnum SRT8 Released - Part One

DODGE PRESS RELEASE PART ONE
"The 2006 Dodge Magnum is bold, powerful, street-smart and full of life," stated Darryl Jackson, VP, Dodge Marketing, Chrysler Group. "With a 425-horsepower 6.1-liter HEMI(R) engine up front, and 71.6 square feet of cargospace in the rear, the 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT8 hauls in more ways than one. At Dodge, the HEMI continues to resonate with our customers," Mr. Jackson continued. "The current take-rate for HEMI in the Dodge Magnum is 43%. The all-new SRT 6.1-liter HEMI quenches the thirst for even more power."

The Dodge Street and Racing Technology (SRT) engineers started with a solid foundation - the 2006 Dodge Magnum - and successfully injected SRT DNA in order to produce a car that can cover a quarter mile in the high 13-second range plus haul home a brand-new 27-inch TV. "From the day it was introduced, the Dodge Magnum screamed performance," announced Dan Knott, Director, Street and Racing Technology, Chrysler Group. "Now, SRT engineering and the 6.1-liter HEMI will take Magnum to the next level."

The 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT8 includes key SRT attributes in ride and handling across a dynamic range Benchmark braking, performance-inspired interior appointments and exterior styling, as well as the raw performance of SRT's big-bore version of the HEMI engine are offered. Performance figures for the all-new 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT8 include a 0-60mph time in the low 5-second range and 60-0 mph braking in about 110 feet. The Dodge Magnum SRT8 can accomplish SRT's signature performance test of 0-100-0mph in the mid 16-second range due to its capability of covering a quarter-mile in the high 13-second range.

The new 6.1-liter SRT engine version of the legendary HEMI engine was inspired by the original family of HEMIs - particularly the namesake hemispherical combustion chambers that provide power and efficiency. Visual cues, including the classic orange-painted cylinder block and black valve covers are also prevalent. The new engine also matches the legendary "Street HEMI" of the 1960s and 1970s with its 425-horsepower rating. But the Dodge does so with less displacement. The 6.1-liter HEMI's 69.8 horsepower-per-liter rating exceeds that of the Street HEMI. The new SRT HEMI is subject to many requirements that older engines didn't have to meet, including requirements for emissions and fuel efficiency.

With Chrysler Group's clean and efficient all-new 5.7-liter HEMI engine as a starting point, SRT powertrain engineers developed 85 more horsepower by engineering more cubic inches, increasing the compression ratio, redesigning the cylinder head, intake and exhaust systems for increased flow, and increasing engine speed. For more displacement, the Dodge Street and Racing Technology engineers bored out the diameter of the cylinders in the HEMI by 3.5 millimeters each in order to increase the total displacement to 6.1 liters from 5.7 liters. Compression ratio was also increased to 10.3:1 from 9.6:1, adding engine efficiency and power. Engine breathing was increased with new higher-flow cylinder heads, a specifically designed intake manifold, and exhaust headers with individual tubes encased in a stainless steel shell, all unique to the 6.1-liter HEMI engine. Larger-diameter valves and reshaped ports in the heads allow for maximized airflow. The intake manifold was designed with larger-diameter and shorter runners for higher-speed tuning.

Exhaust is routed through a large-diameter (2.75-inch vs. 2.5-inch) exhaust system with 3.5-inch chrome tips. To increase horsepower more, performance-oriented camshaft profiles were developed to allow more air in and out of the cylinders, and manage a higher engine speed. Dodge Magnum SRT engineers increased the HEMI's peak power output engine speed nearly 20%, to 6,000 rpm from 5,000 rpm previously. Intake and exhaust valve stems are hollow, and the exhaust valve stems are filled with sodium to help dissipate heat more efficiently. The high-performance SRT 6.1-liter HEMI is strengthened with redesigned components, including a reinforced engine block, forged steel crankshaft, high-strength powdered-metal connecting rods, floating-pin pistons (cooled by oil squirters), and an oil pan modified to manage oil return to the pan sump at high engine speeds.

Power for the 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT 6.1-liter HEMI is channeled through an A580 five-speed automatic transmission with specially calibrated driver-selectable AutoStick(R), which offers fully automatic or manual shifting selection. A heavy-duty four-flange prop shaft sends the torque from the transmission to an upgraded differential and axles.